Electric vacuum-cleaner.



F, C. DE REAMER.

ELECTRIC VACUUM CLEANER.

APPLICA'HON FILED }AN.31. 1918.

1,282,548. Patented 00. 191a.

Ihventcpr Frank C. De Reamer His JIttorneg.

UNITED, STATES PATENT canon.

FRANK C. Bill-AMER, OF SCHENIFQ ZIADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC- 'vAcUUMcLEANEn.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK C. De REAMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Vacuum-Cleaners; of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to electric 'acuuni cleaners of the type comprising a casing mounted on rollers and housing a motor and fan, the casing being provided with a handle by which it is pushed over the surface to be cleaned.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement of electric switch and operating means therefor for closing and opening the motor circuit of the cleaner, and for a consideration of what I believe to be. novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying specification and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Figure l is a side elevation of a vacuum cleaner embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View thereof.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates the fan chamber of the cleaner casing, 6 the nozzle, '5 the motor, 8 the dust bag and 9 the handle which is pivoted on the casing of motor 7 and is used to propel the cleaner over the surface to be cleaned. In the present instance the cleaner is shown as being of the type in which the motor is horizontal and it is supported on two rollers 10, one at each end of the nozzle (3, and. a roller ll carried by a frame 12 at the rear central portion of the motor '7. Only one roller 10 shows in the drawing, but it will be obvious that the other is siu'iilarly arranged at the other end of the nozzle. The above described structure may be taken as typical of electric vacuum cleaners; and as its detail structure forms no part of the present invention, further description is uniu-ccssary. I

New, according to my inventitm, i provide an electric switch of the push type, that is, of the ty 'ie which has two buttons, the svvilch being closed by pushing one button and opened by pushing the other button,

and l lasteu this switch to the motor casingat, a point directly beneath t. i then pro vidc an actuator for the switch which pro.

jects out to the rear of the cleaner using Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

Serial No. 214,575.

and is particularly adapted to be actuated by the foot of the operator. The switch is indicated at 13 and it may have any suitable internal structure, the essential thing being that it has two buttons, one which is pushed to close the switch and the the switch. The buttons are indicated at 14 and 15, and are atached to a push bar 16 which moves back and forth to close and open the switch. The switch casing is pro vided with two projecting parts 17 which receive screws 18 by which the switch is fastcned to the motor casing and the cars 17 are suitably curved to lit the contour of such casing The actuator for the switch comprises a lever 19 pivoted to the motor casing at 20 just to the rear of the switch 13. One end of lever 19 is provided with a fork 21, the two arms of which. terminate ad acent the buttons 14 and 15, and are provided with cars 22 which engage the buttons. The other end of lever 19 projects through an opening 21-) in frame 12 and terminates just above the rear roller 11 toform a piece 24 adapted to be engaged by the foot of the operator to close and open the switch. The piece EZ-l projects sulliciently far to be readily accessible and is preferably provided on. opposite sides with a covering of rubber or other suitable material, as indicated at 25, which acts as a wear piece and also gives a better frictional engagement with the other to open leather of a shoe than would metal, thus assisting in operating the switch. If desired, the material 25 may be red on one side and black on the other, or have other distinguishing colors to indicate which side of the lever to press to close or open the switch. To operate the switch 13 it is only necessary to push-the lever ll) back and forth with the foot. This operation is aided by the end of the lever being located directly over the frame 12 which 'arries roller 11 as the toe of the operator is guided by and be balanced on the top of frame 12.

With the above described arrangement it will be seen that the switch placed at a. point where it is protected from possible injury and where it does not break into the contour of the motor casing and ali'cct unl'avoruhly its appearance. At the same time it pcrmits'ot a very cheap and rugged form of switch being used, and one which is readily adapted to he aerated by a simple lev r pivolcs adjacent it. l urthermore, the

operating end 24 of the lever, while it is patent statutes, I have described the prin ciple of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letteis Patent of the United States, is

l. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having an electric motor for operating it and a casing for the motor, of a switch for controlling the motor circuit mounted on the motor casing directly beneath the motor, and an operating lever for the switch pivoted adjacent the switch and projecting to the rear of the motor casing whereby it is adapted to be operated by the foot of the operator.

2. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having an electric motor for operating it and a casing for the motor, of a push switch of the two-button type for controlling the motor mounted on the motor casing directly beneath the motor, and an operating lever for the switch pivoted adjacent thereto, said lever having a fork at one end, the two arms of which engage the buttons of the switch, the other end of the lever projecting to the rear of the motor casing whereby it is adapted to be operated by the foot of the operator.

In a vacuum cleanerhaving a horizontally extending motor provided with a casing, and a supporting roller to the rear of the casing, the combination of a push switch located beneath the motor casing, a lever pivoted adjacent the switch and pro vided at one end with operating means for the switch, the other end of the lever pro jecting to the rear of the motor casing to a point above the roller.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of January, 1918.

FRANK C, DE REAMER. 

